Thermal Throttling

• Maximum operating temperatures are published by each chip maker.
• Common causes include dust, dried thermal interface material, poor cooler mounting and inadequate airflow.
• Brief temperature spikes during boost are normal and differ from sustained throttling.
• Fixes include cleaning, repasting, better fan curves, power limits or undervolting.

Modern CPUs and GPUs continuously adjust frequency and voltage based on temperature, power and current limits. When the temperature limit is reached, the chip reduces clocks to stay within it.

Thermal paste fills microscopic gaps between the chip's heat spreader and the cooler base.